March 28, 2024

Clarke PTCO wraps up school year

As Clarke Elementary Parent Teacher Community Organization (PTCO) wraps up the 2014-15 school year, it wanted to give the community a recap on the year.

PTCO is an organization designed to bring parents, teachers and members of the community together to support the school and students. PTCO promotes school spirit and parent and community involvement in our school by sponsoring various events, projects and fundraisers.

They ended the school year with limo rides and a pie in the face assembly to celebrate the success of a cookie dough fundraiser last fall.

Clarke Elementary Principal Jill Kiger was duct taped to the wall again this year and Assistant Principal Randy Bolton volunteered to “receive” a pie in the face.

Each student who sold 10 tubs of cookie dough was able to put a piece of duct tape on Mrs. Kiger and everyone who received donations was able to put a dollop of whip cream in a pie so that the top seller then gave Bolton “a pie in the face.”

The PTCO thanks those who supported them by purchasing and/or selling cookie dough this year. It is their primary fundraiser, which enables them to cover the costs of admission and transportation of field trips for each class to go on during the year.

Along with cookie dough sales, they held their annual vendor fair the first weekend of November, where local merchants can sell their merchandise and parents and community members can support local businesses and do their Christmas shopping. A portion of the sales go to the PTCO.

They hold movie nights throughout the year to offer families an affordable option to take their kids to the “movies” and the students can enjoy a movie with their friends and family.

Movies are typically held once a month from October to April with donations collected at the door supporting local charitable organizations like the food pantry and animal shelter. The PTCO food stand proceeds at movie night go toward the school.

Each spring, they hold a carnival where children get to play games and receive prizes for each game. Everything is only 25 cents, including the food.

PTCO wants to expand its awareness and knowledge of cultural heritage by including more games in the carnival. Contact them if you have any suggestions or ideas of games from other cultures they can include.

PTCO provides food at both fall and spring parent teacher conferences, as well as during teacher appreciation week.

They are starting a “Legacy Closet” of gently used Clarke gear to help teachers and students show their support of the Clarke schools.

If a student has an accident and something happens to their clothes during the day, they can change into a clean shirt if needed. If a new family enters the community, the closet will help them get a T-shirt for their students to wear on Fridays to participate in showing their Clarke pride.

PTCO is asking students, parents and community members show their support for Clarke schools by wearing their own Clarke gear on Fridays. Look through closets for items children may have outgrown to pass onto the next generation of Clarke Indians to continue the tradition.

If you would like to donate to the Legacy Closet contact the PTCO by email clarkeptco@hotmail.com or contact the elementary office at 641-342-6320.

An easy way to help the PTCO is to tell your Schwann’s salesperson you would like to support Clarke Community Schools. A portion of the proceeds of an order will then go to support Clarke schools. Box Tops for your school are also something a person can collect and donate to the elementary. If you cut them out, then they drop them off at the school or one of the collection boxes at local businesses around town.

PTCO needs parents, grandparents and community members to join the organization and have a voice in the education of children.

PTCO meetings are held the first Monday of each month during the school year at 5:30 p.m. in the elementary library and usually lasts only one hour. If parents are unable to attend regular meetings, they can still use the help.

For more information, check out the PTCO link on the elementary page of the school website or the Clarke PTCO Facebook page. The monthly newsletter can be found on the back of the menu and also on the school website. If you have questions or comments, email clarkeptco@hotmail.com or talk to any PTCO member.